The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-04
GROWTH OF ST. LUUIS.
Tho city Growisg Bigger and II
People Growing Richer.

Almost anyone who frequents the
streets Of this city will have been
struck with a burly, but uncouth aud
ungraceful figure, bent forward and
leaning on short stout cane, often
seen Cd them. This cane does val
liant service in aiding the locomotion
of its possessor, who having one leg
greatly shorter than the other, goes
very lame. This individual, whose
massive head and face are as we'll
known as his bent figure, is l.. U.
Reavis, who once won some notorie-
ty as the publisher Of pamphlet
advocating tho removal Of the
United States capitol to St. Louis.
This pamphlet won for himself the
title Of capitol Mover" and for
this city the soubriquet, "The
Future Great"
The grounds Of Reayis for advo-
eating the moving Of the national
capitol 10 this city we're not badly
taken. Though somewhat east Of
tho actual geographical center OF the
country, it. is about on the line of
march Westward of the center
Of population, and in due time
doubtless that center will reach
here, aud will probably have come
to stay. Much OF the land west can
never, OF course, be so thickly popu-
lated as the East, and the center OF
population will therefore be always
east of the geographical center.
But, without reference to the
capital, 81. Louis is beginning to
forge ahead at rate that will soon
result in al realization OF Reavis's
prophecy of future greatness. There
is an immense amount OF building
going on this summer, and without
counting the hundreds OF residences,
many OF them costly, there will be
spent millions OF dollars in building.
For two years the Equitable build
ing (Jay Gould's), at Sixth and Lo-
Gust, has been the solitary ten story
Office structure in the city. But il
viii not be so long. The Bank OF
| Commerce, a white granite building
At Fifth aud Olive Quilt out OF
money realized from a few thousand
shares OF Granite Mountain stock,
forfeited collateral for a loan OF
$60O0), is nearly as tall. The Singer
building is addings few more stories
TO its already great hight; then there
will be ten story building on Fourth
and Olive, another on Sixth aud
Olive, the Mercantile Library build
ing, Filth and Locust, Jay Gould
two buildings at Chestnut aud
Seventh aud Sixth, all from nine "a
eleven stories high. Then the char.
ter has been granted for another
bridge across tho river, aud what il
Of most interest TO the people gen
orally, trade is better than il has
ever been before.
| The st. Louis Exposition and fair
the Yelled Prophets aud trades pa
rades-eyen the Grand Army OF the
Republics encampment, are all doing
great deal 10 advertise the Future
Great, aud bring people and bust
ness here. IL is believed that duriug
the.yisit OF the President this fall the
largest transient crowd ever Assem-.
blCd in an American city will be
gathered here. But with all It's
growth, aud efforts TO gather trade
from all directions, Il is very noticea.
BILE that st. Louis makes no heldway
in getting the cotton trade Of Mem
phis. The Bluff City seems TO be
coming TO the front az tho great cot
ton market OF the country.
There is large number Of mill.
ivnaircs in this city. Many Of them
have become so suddenly, and many
hers grew rich ia a very few years.
Those vho became rich suddenly all
did 30 by iudicious investments ia
mines. One mine, the famous Gran
ito Mountain, made more than dog.
Gu men worth iron 81 ,000, 600 TO 50,
100000 each, aud a still larger mum.
Der very rich. A great deal Of
money has been put Into mines by
IT. Louis people In the past two
years, aud they are still at il. A
large humber Of mines in Montana,
Colorado, New Mexico aud Arizona,
owned b. st. Louis people, are be-
ginning TO come TO the front a. diyi-
deBd payers, aud already the revenue
from this source % the people Of
the city amounts TO moro than double
the,totSl receipts from all other cor.
p)ratlons. Granite Mountain alone
distributes 81 100000 a year, and
many others pay largely, while the
net dividends OF the banks annually
are only $780, 900, Of the street rail.
road companies Sl50. 900, and the in.
surance Companies $4,000. These
facts are potent 10 cause even the
solldest citizens TO look into
aud make investments in mines.
which Il Is generally acknowledged
are safe, u done with judgment, aud
more profitable than any other logiu.
mate lino OF business. But q good
many people have been bitten, aud il
IL no longer easy 10 sell mere pros.
pect holes, mines that are already
worked. only, are now salable.
The brleiost sketch OF st. Louis
would be incomplete without some
reference TO It's mayor. IL Is proba.
bic that no city Of its size aud com.
morcial Importance has ever been
governed by a mAyorSo young aud at
the same time 80 capable as Mayor
ID. X. Francis lie is now thirty.
four years old, a millionaire, who
made his fortune himself, having
begun poor, aud who is more than any
politician ever saw the iavorito Of al
political parties. Both Democratic
and Republican papers support him
and approve his acts. Ii Is said that
President Cleveland quite fell 10 love
with "our Dave when he won't TO
urge him 20 visit st. Louis, aud will
spend most OF the time ut his resi-.
donce while in the ciiy. IL Is not
known what the political aspirations
of Mayor Francis Tor the future may
be, but it Is generally believed be
can be Governor, " be wants TO.
W